Model 710 was designed by custom knife makers Bill McHenry and Jason Williams and premiers Benchmade's patented AXIS™ lock which was also designed by Bill and Jason. It looks simple enough, and it is, but it's the end result of a lot of hard work and perseverance by Bill and Jason, over the course of 4 years. The AXIS™ lock is totally ambidextrous and allows for easy one-handed opening and closing of the blade without your fingers ever being in the path of the blade. The design is very intuitive to operate with little or no instruction needed on how the lock functions.

As simple as the lock is, perhaps its biggest selling feature is its brute strength. In testing, the lock supported a negative load of over 200 pounds without damage. When the lock does finally fail, the liners simply crack over the locking pin, but at no time in Benchmade's testing would the blade have closed on the users hand. The AXIS™ lock features two "Omega" shaped springs that provide outstanding functional redundancy. The springs are lightly stressed and our tests show they should last indefinitely. In the unlikely event that one of the springs does fail, the other will still operate the knife just fine.

Is this the strongest lock made? That's very difficult to say for certain. Benchmade claims that i's certainly more rugged than many of the typical lock-back and liner-locking knives. The sizable 3.90" D2 Tool Steel blade of the 710 features a reverse-curve grind for increased cutting ability. The double liners are heat-treated 420 stainless steel as is the locking-bar. There is a removable, stainless steel pocket-clip located on the butt end of the knife. This given clip location on the butt end is necessary due to the locking mechanism. If the clip were positioned on the pivot end, the knife would protrude much too far out of your pocket.

Features

Reverse Curve Blade Shape

Larger Sized Folder

D2 Tool Steel Blade

Machined G10 Handle Scales

Country of Origin: USA

Specifications

Blade Length: 3.90"

Blade Thickness: 0.115"

Blade Material: D2 Tool Steel

Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC

Blade Style: Modified Clip-Point; Ambidextrous Dual Thumb Studs

Weight: 4.50oz.

Clip: Black, Reversible, Tip-Up

Lock Mechanism: AXIS

Overall Length: 8.80"

Closed Length: 4.90"

AXIS® A patented Benchmade exclusive, AXIS has been turning heads and winning fans ever since its introduction. A 100-percent ambidextrous design, AXIS gets its function from a small, hardened steel bar which rides forward and back in a slot machined into both steel liners. The bar extends to both sides of the knife, spanning the liners and positioned over the rear of the blade. It engages a ramped, tang portion of the knife blade when it is opened. Two omega style springs, one on each liner, give the locking bar it’s inertia to engage the knife tang, and as a result the tang is wedged solidly between a sizable stop pin and the AXIS bar itself.

Badges

Made in USA
This product is USA born and raised.

Pocket Clip
Includes a pocket clip for easy accessibility and a more secure carry.

D2 Tool Steel
This is a high carbon steel that is appropriate for use in hostile environments and is known for edge retention.

G10 Handles
Formed in a sheet under high pressure by combining fiberglass and an epoxy resin binder. These handles are lightweight and shaped to ensure a solid grip.

First off I don't understand how anybody couldn't give this knife any less than 5 stars. This is a fantastic knife and I as anybody who has ever owned one can attest to why Benchmade has made this thing for so long. The steel is amazing as is the G10 handles and the axis lock. The only downside which also makes this knife awesome is the recurve of the blade. I don't have trouble sharpening it because of the sharpmaker but if I was inexperienced I could see how this could cause a problem.

I received the knife in a few days as ordered, no delays. This knife is very sharp right out of the box. I like the G10 handle which has full liners and has a very solid feel. I take this knife when I'm hiking even with group hikes when a fixed blade might not seem appropriate. This is my first knife with d2 steel and I look forward to years of use with this knife.

I have always loved knives & collected them, in a small way. I purchased this one for my daughter, when she was in high school. After about a year of carrying it, she decided it was overkill & traded it back to me for the size smaller of the same knife. She still carries it today! The knife is great in every manner. Has great steel. great handles, lock, etc...I carried this knife for close to 25 years. I recently lost it & had to buy a new one to replace it.

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